Artificial intelligence and innovation in the firm: challenges and threats

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is reshaping the competitive landscape and increasingly functions as a crucial driver of innovation and organizational transformation. The interaction between AI and innovation management raises several critical questions concerning strategic business decisions, ethical considerations, and the long-term sustai-nability of innovative activities. This research aims to develop a conceptual framework that outlines the key challenges and risks associated with the adoption of AI technologies in innovation-oriented firms. The guiding research question is as follows: to what extent does current scholarly literature address the challenges posed by the risks associated with implementing AI solutions in the context of sustainable innovation? The foundation of this work is the risk-based approach outlined in the EU AI Act, with particular attention to its differentiated levels of regulatory requirements applied to distinct catego-ries of AI systems. To investigate the existing academic landscape, we conducted a scoping review in accordance with PRISMA standards and established methodological guidelines, relying on the Scopus and Web of Science databases. The research concludes with a discussion of the theore-tical and managerial implications derived from the review.